Report From Japan
REPORT FROM JAPAN
W. B. SWIM
THE Motorcycling Federation of Japan (MFJ) began publishing a handsome 42-page monthly magazine in March. Named "Riding" and sub-titled "MFJ Report," the initial edition was jam-packed with motorcycle news, race reports, technical articles and even some advertisements, mostly from gasoline and parts and accessories companies. It sells for 50 yen (15 cents), and at that price is a better bargain than the old commercial motorcycle magazines available in Japan. The first edition, with a terrific two-color cover picture of a scrambles rider sliding DOWN a hillclimb course, included photo-gravures of the New Year Motocross and a January dirt track race at Hamamatsu, plus three pages of excellent shots of the U.S. Grand Prix race at Daytona. Articles included the MFJ and FIM 1963 racing calendars, three stories on riding techniques. a round-table discussion of the Japan Grand Prix which will be held this fall, an article on the history of motorcycle racing machines, details of a new Yamaha model and a British racer, explanations of moto-cross racing and three pages crammed with short news items. Meanwhile, the MFJ, which had been known in Japanese as the "Nihon Motorcycle Race Federation" has dropped the word "race" from its name. It remains the same in English. -
Tohatsu has designed a hot 125cc model for the American market, and the first shipment should be in the hands of distributor Hap Jones in San Francisco by the time this issue reaches you. The Tohatsu Twin Deluxe turns 15 hp at 8,000 rpm and has a top speed through its 4gear transmission of 115 kph (over 70 low the Tohatsu Sport, which is almost a factory racing job. With twin cylinders, twin carbs and twin pipes, it has a racy appearance. A chrome front fender and short rear fender give it a light look, and it does the quarter mile from a standing start in 19 seconds flat. The new 2-stroke bike has 18-inch wheels front and rear and gets 65 km/liter (35 miles per gallon) with a torque of 1.24 kgm/6,500 rpm.
Honda has enlarged their motor scooter to 170cc and succeeded in perfecting a HRD transmission for it. The HRD outfit permits maximum usage of the transmission’s four gears without having to shift. All you do is work the clutch, and the gears shift automatically. The 170cc version of the Honda Juno scooter is priced at 169,000 yen ($469) in Japan. The 4-cycle twin engine produces 12 hp @ 7,600 rpm and gives a top speed of 100 kph (63 mph). The motor world, including Detroit, is agog at Honda’s success in perfecting this revolutionary transmission.
The hot 250cc class proved fastest in the 300-km (187-mile) First Amateur Endurance Race at the Suzuka Circuit March 24, but a pair of American riders copped the Over 251cc event trophy.
Top amateur rider in Japan, Nobukazu Otsuki, and his teammate Mitsuo Tamura pushed their Honda Dream Super Sports CB-72 machine around the 6-km Suzuka Circuit in high winds 80 times in just 4 hours, 22 minutes and 19.4 seconds. Bob Burns and Art Everhart, U.S. Air Force men stationed in Japan, took home the trophy for the Over 251cc race by completing 79 laps (474.3 km) in 4 hr. 23 min. 59.6 sec. on a Triumph T100SS. Honda won two of the smaller classes and Suzuki went home with one. A Honda Benly Super Sports CB-92 took the 125cc event in 69 laps (414.3 km) in 4 hr. 25 min. 11.6 sec; a Suzuki 80cc K-ll took the 9()cc 49-lap (76 km) race in 3 hr. 51 min. 58.4 sec; and a Honda Super Cub C110 copped the 50cc race in 48 laps at 3 hr. 53 min. 57.2 sec.
The race was for two-man teams of amateur riders, swapping racing chores at least once every hour, mounted on standard road machines minus lighting equipment.
Honda Motor president Soichiro Honda’s light airplane crashed March 23 while he was on his way to the endurance race at Suzuka, but he escaped with only scratches and bruises. His pilot was slightly injured, and the company’s Piper Pacer plane was a complete loss. They had stopped en route to repair mechanical trouble and crashed off the end of the short runway at the emergency field halfway between Tokyo and Suzuka when they were taking off. •
